Commutator



L E. HODGES. COMMUTATOB. APPLICATION mzo SEPT. 22. I919.

V Patented Aug. 31, 1920.

. M L. E. hoqqes UNITED STATES PWMAQF FFIPGE.

LEWIS E. HODGES," OF TAB-B030, NORTH CAROLINA.

COMMUTATOB.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LEWIS E. llonons,a citizen of the United States-residing at Tarboro in the county of Edgecombe and State of North Carolina, have invented new and useful Im rovemeuts in Commutators, of which the ollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to commutators for internal combustion engines and aims to provide a commutator which is especially \designed for use upon internal combustion engines of the Ford type.

An object of the invention is the provision of a commutator of this character in which the entire device, includin a casing and istributer arm, may be quic ly and easily removed'fro'm the commutator shaft, fort e purpose of cleaning or repair, and which me. be easil and quickly replaced.

nother 0 ject is the provision of a commutator having novel means for preventing the-escape of lubricant from the casing, the said means in addition serving to properly center the distributer arm between thewalls of the casing.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the following description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a. commutator constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig, 2 is a view with the cover plate re moved and partly broken away.

Fig. 3 is a central sectional view of the same. I

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the distributer arm and the oil aprons removed from the casing.

Referring to the drawings in detail, where in like characters of reference denote corresponding parts, the commutator comprises a casing, which is formedpf a ring or annulus 10, having a rear wall 11, which is preferably formed integral therewith, and is provided with a central opening l2,for the pussage of the c umutntor shaft 13. The casing is provided with a ring or annulus 14, within which are embedded spaced contact plates 15. These contact plates have projecting therefrom threaded msts or stems 16, which pass through openings in the ring 14 and through an insulating sleeve 17, the latter being seated in opemn 18, formed in the annular wall 10 of t e casing. The

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 22,1919. Serial No. 325.393.

posts or stems 1G carry nuts 19, by means of which the conductor wires (not shown) are secured.

Reuiovably mounted upon the shaft 13, is a sleeve 20, one end of this sleeve bearing against the rear n all ll of the casing and carrying spaced aprons 21, the latter extending approximately two-thirds of the distance around the sleeve (more or less) and being adapted to bear against the inner surface of the rear wall 11 and the inner surface of the cover plate 22. This last mentioned plate may be secured to the casing through the medium of screws 23, which pass through openings in the insulated ring 1-] and engage threaded openings in the rear wall 11, so that a closed casing is provided. Mounted upon a pivot pin 24, which is secured in each of the aprons 21, is a distributor arm 2.3, one end of the said arm being bifurcated. as indicated at 26, and having mounted therein a roller 27, which is adapted to contact with the plates U3. The roller is held in position for contact with the plates 15 by means of a spring 28, one end of which is secured to the arm 25, as indicated at 29, and the oppo site end to a pin 30, carried by the aprons 2i.

The sleeve 20 is secured to the shaft 13 by means of a pin 31, which passes through an opening in the said shaft and engages a notch 32, provided in the sleeve, and is held against accidental displacement by means of a cap 33, which extends over the end of the sleeve and is held in osition by a nut 34:. An oil port 35 is provided in the cover plate 22, said port being normally closed by a spring actuated closure 36. An aiixiliary ca p or cover 37 is removubly positioned over the cover plate 22. and isprovided with a depression or socket 38, which receives one end of a spring arm 39, the opposite end being fastened at any convenient point. 1 The cap 3? is further provided with notches spaced around its periphery, which engage the screws 2,3 of the cover plate, holding the cap against radial or lateral move; ment, while the spring arm 39 holds the cup and cover plate in engagement. This mannor of holding the cup permits of an adjustment ol' the commutator, which in 'ustment may be effected through the medium of a suitable rod or other connection with an arm 40. extending from the commutator.

The invention is susceptible of various changes in its form, proportions and minor details of construction and the right is herein reserved to make such changeh fall within the scope of the. appe Having described the inuention, what is claimed 18:

1. In a commutator, a rotatahly mounted shaft, a casin surroundin the shaft, said casing including front an rear walls havingopenings for the .passage of the shaft, adistributer arm rotatable .with .the shaft for enga ement with spaced contacts carried by t 1e casing and combined means located within the casing for reventing the escape of lubricant through tlie openings in thefroht and rear walls of the casin' and to provide a mounting for the distributor arm; z

2." In a commutator, .a rotatably mounte shaft, a casing surrounding the shaft, said casing including front and rear walls having openings for the passage bf the shaft, a distributor armrotatable with the shaft for enga ement with spaced contacts carried by t 1e casing and spaced aprons carried'by the shaft and operating upon the 2s inner surfaces of the front and rear walls of the casing.

3. In a-eommutator, a rotatably mounted shaft, a casing surrounding the shaft, said casin including a rear wall and a removable r'ont wall, both having openings therein for-the passage of th shaft, a sleeve surrounding the shaftwit in the casing and having o'ne end surrounding the opening in the rear wall and opposite end extend s properly ed claims.

" ried b ,witht e sleeve and shaft and contacting able front wall ing through the openin in the front wall, a distributer arm rotatable with said sleeve for engagement with s aced contacts carthe casing an: means cngageable with the outer wall to hold the parts assembled, an auxiliary cover late and means for removably holding the p ate in position in a manner to permit of the rotation of the casin 4. n a commutator, a rotatably mounted shaft,a casing surrounding the shaft, said casing including a rear wall and a removiaving openings therein for the passage of the shaft, a sleeve surrounding the shaft within the casing and having one end'surrounding the opening in the rear wall and its opposite end extending through the opening lnthe front wall, a distributor arm rotatable with said sleeve for engagement with spaced contacts carried bv the casing, means engageable with the sleeve and shaft and contacting with the outer wall to hold the parts assembled, spaced aprons ca 1 ried by the sleeve for contact with the inner surfaces of the front and rear Walls to properly position the distributor arm between said walls and to prevent the escape of inbricant, an auxiliary cover plate and means for removably holding the latter in position in a manner to permit. of rotation of the casing.

In testimony whereof I afiix In? signature.

LEWIS E. H ODGES. 

